Los Angeles County CA Archives Biographies.....Sawtelle, W. E. 1850 - 
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Author: Luther A. Ingersoll (1908)

    W. E. SAWTELLE, a quiet and genial citizen of the city that, by reason of
his unique personality and popularity took unto itself his name, is a native of
the town of Norridgewock, Maine, and was born August, 1850. His ancestors were
Hueguenots who fled from France upon the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and
sought refuge in England. Later generations came to America and became pioneers
of Massachusetts. Richard Sawtelle was a native of Groton, Mass. Closely
following the American Revolution he settled in Norridgewock, Somerset County,
Maine, when that country was a virgin forest dominated by Indians. George
Sawtelle was a son of Richard, and was born and grew up at Norridgewock. He
became a merchant and man of affairs in his native town where he was for about
twenty years postmaster, having received his appointment of President Lincoln in
1861. He there married Sarah Peet, who was also a native of Norridgewock. She
was a daughter of Rev. Josiah Peet, a minister of the Congregational Church.
George and Sarah Sawtelle had three sons and a daughter. One son Dr. F. G.
Sawtelle, is a prominent physician of Providence, R. I. He served in the Union
Army during the Civil War as a member of the Third Maine Battery. F. J. Sawtelle
is an architect and lives at Providence, R. I. The daughter is Mrs. M. S.
Hopkins, who lives in the old homestead at Norridgewock, Maine.

    W. E. Sawtelle grew up at Norridgewock and at nineteen years of age went to
Worcester, Mass., and became a member of the mercantile firm of The
Sanford-Sawtelle Company, dealers in books and manufacturers of blank books, the
business having been founded in 1835. It was one of the oldest established
houses of that wealthy old city. He was associated with this concern for a
period of about twenty-seven years.

    Mr. Sawtelle married Miss Mary Wheeler and they have two daughters,
Katherine and Barbara. In 1896 Mr. Sawtelle, with his family, came to
California. In 1899 Mr. Sawtelle became part owner and an officer of the Pacific
Land Company, the promoters of the then embryo town of Barrett Villa. Mr.
Sawtelle assumed the business management of the new enterprise and by reason of
his splendid qualities of mind and heart became exceedingly popular with the
people. He was soon elected president of his company. He organized and was made
president of the Sawtelle Water Company, and in fine was ever alert for the
promotion of any and all enterprises looking to the betterment of his city.

    In the year 1900 application to the United States postal authorities was
made for the establishment of a postoffice at Barrett. The name being so similar
to that of Bassett P. O. in this state, the department wished another name, and
the wishes of its people centered on their chief citizen as a fitting evidence
of the high esteem in which he was held.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Ingersoll's century history, Santa Monica Bay cities: prefaced with a brief
history of the state of California, a condensed history of Los Angeles County,
1542 to 1908: supplemented with an encyclopedia of local biography and
embellished with views of historic landmarks and portraits of representative
people.

Los Angeles: Luther A. Ingersoll (1908)


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